Can we access banking and other web sites while traveling in a guided tour in China?

We will be in China - Bejing, Yangztee river cruise, Shanghahi, etc. from June 15 through July 11, 2006. Can I access the internet to take care of making online payments, checking my mail etc? Is this access openly available in major hotels and other places in town? What would be the cost? Thanks.

of course. go to an internet cafe

Since you are on a tour, most likely you will stay in nicer hotels that should have internet access, you might expect to pay 1-3 dollars per hour.

China is brimming with internet cafes but you should bring a guide with you since most won't speak english. These places charge 1-3 yuan per hour (12-40 cents), and provide an insight to the Chinese internet culture (online gaming, chatting and other mindless things--they rarely use the internet for information)